Container stacking machine



7 Sheets-Sheret 1 R. WELLS CONTAINER STACKING MACHINE Dec. 6, 1955 FiledAug. 9, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 R. WELLS CONTAINER STACKING MACHINE Dec.6, 1955 Filed Aug. 9, 195o DCC 6, 1955 R. WELLS 2,725,992

CONTAINER STACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Dec. 6, 1955 R. WELLSCONTAINER sTAcKING MACHINE F'iled Aug. 9, 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1955 R. WELLS CONTAINER STACKING MACHINE 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 9, 1950 Ro er Well?? Qr/'L'S Horrc .s

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ATTORNEYS Dec. 6, 1955 R. WELLS 2,725,992

CONTAINER STACKING MACHINE Filed Aug. 9, 195o v sheets-sheet fr UnitedStates Patent CGN TAIN ER STACKING MACHINE Roger Wells, Plattsburg, N.Y., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., acorporation of Delaware Application August 9, 1950, Serial No. 178,509

14 Claims. (Cl. 214-7) The present invention relates to a plate stackingand counting device. More particularly the present invention relates toa device for the arrangement of plates of stiff paper or molded pulp innested relation and for the counting of the nested plates.

It is one of the general objects of the present invention, therefore, toprovide a novel device for receiving the plates from a drier wherein theplates, after molding, are continuously dried, and thereafterautomatically arranging the plates in nested relation in a stack forconvenient access by an operator.

A second general object of the present invention is to provide a devicefor successively moving single plates into nested relation with aplurality of other plates, said device being provided with means formarking one of said plates at given intervals.

A third general object of the present invention is to provide means toproduce a column of nested plates and guide means cooperating withreciprocating means for moving and guiding additional plates into properrelation to the remaining plates in the column.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide novelreciprocating means for moving plates into relation with plates in acolumn, together with guide means for guiding said plates and forcounting said plates, the aforesaid reciprocating means beingconstructed so that movement of the reciprocating means in the absenceof a plate will not actuate said guide and/or counting means.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide yielding means forresisting movement of a column of nested plates, while permittingylimited movement of said column therethrough.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the subsequent description and figures of the drawingwherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the device according tothe present invention, showing a plunger feed means in partiallyadvanced position with a plate or food container resting thereon; i

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the operating mechanism for actuating thefeed plunger;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l, partly in section, with the plungerin retracted position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the plunger appreaching fullyadvanced position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the plunger in fully advancedposition and showing the upper and lower guide doors in thepositionoccupied prior to movement of the plunger to retracted position;Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the plunger and lateral guide doors withthe plunger in retracted position;

f Fig. 7 is a section taken along the line'7-7 of Fig. l; Fig. 8 is asection taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a section similarto Figs. 7 and 8 with the plunger in fully retracted position;

Fig. 10 is a similar section with the advanced position; y i Fig. l1 isa vertical section taken generally along the plunger fully ICC line11-11 of Fig. 7, showing the shoes on the yieldable retarding mechanismin engagement with a plate edge;

Fig. 12 is a detail section of one of the brake shoes;

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of the machine showing the relationshipof the assembly track and driving mechamsm;

Figs. 14 and 15 are plan views, partly in section, of a portion of themachine showing modified lateral door guides.

Referring to the iigures of the drawings and particularly Figs. 1 and 13thereof, the device of the present invention includes a main supportingstructure consisting in part of vertical angle irons 1i) fastenedtogether towards their lower end as by tie plates 11 fastened to andsupported by a base member 12. Extending from the angles 10 is adelivery trough or track indicated in general at 13, fastened at one endto the angle bars 1l? and supported at its other end by a leg structureindicated at 14. Extending from the angle bars 10 in opposed relation tothe delivery trough 13 is a horizontal bar 15 supported at its endremote from the angles 10 by a vertical supporting member 16 fastened tothe base member 12 at its lower end.

The drier indicated in general at 17, which serves to receive moistplates from a pulp molding machine (not shown), is positioned above thedevice of the present invention and is also supported at its forward endby the angle bars 10. Movable through the drier 17 is a suitableconveyor chain indicated at 18, the direction of movement of theconveyor chain being shown by the arrow 19 in Fig. 13. The chain 1S issubject to intermittent movement and is provided with a series ofpartitions 20 for supporting platesor containers C. These plates orcontainers are fed into a guide chute 21 at the lower forward end of thedrying mechanism as the partitions 20 approach an inclined generallyvertical position and as delivered are arrested in their movement by aswingable stop member 22 which is movable between the two positionsindicated in Fig. l. The stop member 22 serves to retain the plates inposition on a guide member 23 supported as by the bar 24 from thevertical angles 10. The stop member 22 is pivoted as at 25 from the bar26 also supported by the vertical angle 10. The stop member 22 moveswith a lever 27, in turn moved by a lever 28 pivotally connected to anactuating rod 29, A second vertically disposed guide chute 30 isprovided positioned to receive the containers C as they are released bythe stop member 22. The guide chute .30 is formed from a pair of lateralvertically disposed plates 31 and 32 in part supported as by avertically extending angle 33 extending vertically upward from the trackor trough 13. The forward end of the chute Sti is closed as by a member34 pivotally supported by the arm 35 pivoted on the bolt 36 which is inturn journalled in the cross-member 3! for the track 13. The rear end ofthe guide chute 30 is closed by an inclined back member 38. The lowerend of the back 38 is provided with a spring guide 39 which prevents therearward movement of the plates or containers C with a reciprocatingplunger 44B which arrests the downward movement of the plates C upontheir reaching the guide chute 30. It will be noted in this connectionthat the plunger 40, which reciprocates, as will be hereinafter pointedout, is timed in its movement so as to be in for ward position when theplate C is released by the stop member 22.

Referring now in particular to Fig. l, it will be noted that the plungeris moving forward and has not yet reached its full forward position butthe plate C is rest# ing upon the plunger 4% or more particularly upon apair of horizontal bars 41 and 42 forming the upper part of the plunger40, as shown in detail in Fig. 6. In Fig.` 5 the plunger 40 is in fullyforward position and the containeris resting upon the rear end of thebars 41 and` 42. As best shown in Fig. 6 the plunger 40 is of a specialconstruction so as to vcontact the four corners of a plate or containerand thus includes a central core member 43, the two upper bars 41 andV42 just referredV to and two lowerbars 44 and 45, all of the barsextending outwardly beyond the core member 43 and thus forming fourAslots or grooves, the two grooves in alignment with the vertical axis ofthe core 43 being indicated at 4 6 and 4.7', TGSPGC.- tively, and thetwo grooves in alignment with the hori-v zontal axis of the core 43being indicated at 48 and 49. This particular structure enables theplunger, in engaging the containers or plates, to exert an even pressurethereon while still providing the grooves for receiving guide doorsaswill bc hereinafter s et forth. it will be noted that the core 43extends forwardly and is provided with a nose 5,0 which engages theinside of the containers or plates. The bars 41 and 42 are supported ona plate 51 fastened to the core member 43. and the bars 44 and 45 aresupported and fastened to a plate 52 fastened to the core member 59. Therear end of the core member 43 of the4 plunger 40 is provided with apair of ears 53 and 54 having jour.- nalled therebetween the end of apiston rod S5. The end of the piston rod 55 remote from the plunger(Figt 2.) is pivotally connected as at 56 to an arm 57 which in turn ispivoted at 58 on the base member 12. Intermediate its ends, the arm 57is provided with a slot 59 which receives a pin 66 extending through aslot 61 in a disc 62. By varying the position of the pin 6G with respectto the slot 61, the length of the stroke of the reciprocating plungercan be varied. rlhe disc 62 is supported for rotation with a shaft 63 bya bearing 64 supported by the bracket 65 from the base member 12.Rotation of the disc 62 and consequent movement of the pin 60 within theslot 61. and the slot 59 will, therefore, reciprocate the piston orplunger rod S. At the upper end of the arm 57 there is also provided acam member 66 which cooperates with a pivoted lever 67 pivotallysupported as at 63 from the member previously described. The lever 67 ispivotally connected as at 69 to the actuating rod 29 previouslydescribed so that movement of the arm 57 will also rotate the stopmember 22 previously described. The disc 62 is rotated by the shaft 63which is in turn rotated by a sprocket 70 driven by the roller chain 71which is in turn driven in synchronism with the drier chain 18 so thatmovement of the drier chain to deliver a coutainer or plate willsimultaneously operate the remainder of the mechanism in proper timedrelation.

Referring in particular to Fig. 3, it will be noted that a pair ofvertical guide doors 75 and 76 are provided for guiding a container Cinto proper nested relation. The guide door 75 is pivoted at 77 to abracket 78 suitably supported from the member 34. The guide door 75 isbalanced to normally assume the position shown in Fig. 3 by a spring 79fastened at one end to a bolt 80 and at the other to an adjustment screw31 on the door 75. The door 76 is pivoted at 82 to a cross-member 83 andis counter-balanced to assume the position of Fig. 3 by a weight 84, thedownward movement of the weight 84 being limited by a stop 8 5 extendingfrom the member 83.

As shown in Fig. 4 the forward movement of the pis. ton has moved thecontainer C forwardly, pushing the guide doors 75 and 76 into theposition shown. Further movement of the piston member into the positionof Fig. 5 will move the container C and the entire stack of containers Saway from the guide doors 75 and 76 but the doors are prevented fromreturning to the position of Fig. 3 by their entry into the grooves 46and 47.

Referring in particular to Fig. 6, it will be noted that a pair oflateral or horizontal guide doors 86 and 87 are also provided, whichserve to guide a container into stacking relation in cooperation withthe guide doors 75 and 76, just described, and the piston 40. Thelateral guide door 86 is mounted to rotate with the pivot pin 88suitablyjournalled and supported at its upper and lower ends forrotation. Wound about the lower end of the pivot pin 88 is a spring 89having an end 90 xed in a bearing block 91 and a lower end whichcooperates with a pin 93 on an arm 94 movable `with the pivot pin 88.The spring 89, therefore, urges the door 86 into the position shown inFig. 8 wherein a stop 95 extending upwardly from the block 91 arrestsfurther movement in a rearward direction.

The door 87 is similarly pivotable with a pivot pin 96 journalled in thelower block 97 and a upper block 98 (Fig.` 1).. A spring 99. is woundabout the lower end of the pin 96 and is provided with an upper end 100fixed in the block 97. The lower end 101 of the spring 99 cooperateswith a, Rin 102 on an arm 103 rotatable with the pivot pin 96. Thespring 99 therefore urges the door 87 into engagement with the stop 104,as shown in Fig. S. The arm 163 forms part of a yoke including the arm105 at its lower end and journalled in the yoke thus formed is ecounting arml provided with a pawl member 107 at its other end. As shownin Eig. l, the pawl 107 normally engages th@ ratchet tooth 108 on acounting wheel 1 09 which is supported for rotation as on a hanger 110extending downwardly from the track 1,3.

The door 8,7,.therefore, functions not only as a guide door for thecontainers but also as a counting door. Movement of the door 87 from theposition shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to the position of Fig. 7 will move thepawl'107 a sutiicient distance to operate the ratchet wheel 109 adistance of one tooth. In the absence of a container, however, themovement of the door 87 to the position of Fig. 10, whieh, is themaximum movement caused by the piston alone, will not move the pawl 107sufficiently to move the ratchet wheel 109, since the door 87 entersinto the groove 48 and assumes only a slight inclination from itsoriginal position.

The doors 86 and 87 also serve to maintain a container in substantiallyvertical position after it has dropped in front of the piston 40 uponrearward movement of the piston, the spring guide 39 cooperating withthe doors to confine a container therebetween! The counting wheel 109 isprovided with a pair of lugs 115 and 116 extending from the face thereofand dividing the counting wheel into two equal segmentst 'I he lngs 115and 116 periodically contact an actuating portion 117 on a microswitch118 suitably supported from the hanger 110. The microswitch 118 isconnected to a potential source, as by the Wir@ 1.19: and SUPPIQS.Current when actuated by means of a wire d120 to a solenoid12,1Vsupported laterally adjacent ,the track 13. The Solenoid 121 isprovided with an armature 122 which is in turn connected as by a spring1,23 to a knife actuating arm 124; The arm 124 is' normally Aretaiwed intheposition shown in Figs. 7 and 8 by a spring 125. The arm 124 issuitably pivoted and supported at 12,6 adjacent theA guide track 13.Movement of the core 122 will, therefore, through the spring 123, causethe arm v12,4 to swing in a clockwise direction about the pivot 126 inopposition to the action of the spring 125. At the free, end of the `arm124 there is pivoted, as by an adjacent bolt 127, a markingknife 128.Movement of the arm 124 will therefore cause the knife 128 to moveinwardly and lightly nick the edge or rim of a selected plate orcontainer, this action taking place twice during a complete rotation ofthe counting wheel 109.

Referring in particular to Figs. 11 and 12, it is to be noted that thetrack 1,3 is constituted by a pair of angles 130 and 131 so as vto forma guide for the containers. At a point along the track; suitably spacedfrom the guide chute 30, there is provided a pair of bearing blocks 1 32and 133. extending downwardly and supported by the angles 130 and 1'31.Journalled through the bearing blocks 1i32and 133 are a pair of bolts134 and 135 which extend in general parallelism with the respectiveangle members 130 and 131, The bolts 134 and 135 are provided with heads136 and 137 Iwhich limit their movement within the Vbearing blocks 132and 133 and are further supported at a point remote from their heads bya second pair of bearing blocks 138 and 139 similarly supported from andextending downwardly from the angles 130 and 131. Mounted on the bolts134 and 135 for movement therewith is a U-shaped bracket formed from thetwo L-shaped members 140 and 141 held together by the bolts 142 and 143.Bearing against the upwardly extending ears 144 and 145 of the U-shapedbracket member are a pair of springs 146 and 147, respectively, thesesprings being coiled about the bolts 134 and 135. The other end of thesprings 146 and 147, respectively, bear against the blocks 138 and 139and the springs normally urge the ears 144 and 145 and the bracket tothe right, as shown for example in Figs. 7 to 10, inclusive. Movement ofthe U-shaped bracket, however, to the right under the action of thespring is limited by contact of the ears 144 and 145 with the bearingblocks 132 and 133. Similarly, movement of the U-shaped bracket to theleft is limited by contact of the heads 136 and 137 with the other sideof the bearing blocks 132 and 133. Carried by the U-shaped bracket formovement therewith are a pair of brake shoes 148 and 149. The brake shoe148 includes a portion 150 which is fastened to the L-shaped member 140by the screws 151 and 152. Theother portion 153 of the brake shoe 148extendsin general parallelism with the track angle member 130. The brakeshoe 148 is provided with a friction `facing of a suitable material suchas leather, indicated at 154, and the entire brake shoe is formed of aspring metal, such as spring steel. Adjustment of the portion 153 of thebrake shoe relative to the portion 150 is achieved by means of theadjustment bolt 155 so that the friction face 154 of the brake shoe 148may be brought into firmer contact with the containers moving along thetrack 13. In general the bolt 155 is adjusted so that ordinarily thefriction facing 154 firmly engages the edges of the stacked containersand not only moves with the stack under the action of the piston member40 but also exerts suicient pressure as to be capable of moving theentire stack to the right when the piston 40 is in retracted position.The brake shoe 149 is of similar construction and includes a portion 156fastened to the L-shaped member 140 by screws 157 and 158 and a secondportion 159 adjacent the track angle 131. The brake shoe 149 is alsoprovided with an adjustment bolt 160 and a friction facing 161.

Referring to Figs. 14 and 15, there is shown a modified form of lateralor horizontal door structure, these modiiied doors being indicated at165 and 166, respectively. The operation of these horizontal doormembers is identical to that described in connection with the members 86and 87, respectively, except that the members 165 and 166 at theirinnermost position are in contact with stop members 167 and 168 so thattheir furthermost inward movement is that corresponding to the positionshown in Fig. 14. The doors 165 and 166 in this modied form are providedwith outwardly extending lugs 169 and 170, respectively, which formpockets for receiving and arresting the stack of plates 'upon theirrearward movement as the piston 40 is withdrawn, this position beingshown in Fig. 14.

Operation v Referring to the gures of the drawings and particularlyFigs. 1 and 7, it will be noted that the plunger or piston 40 is thereshown in partially advanced position. Just prior to this position of theplunger the stop member 22 has been rotated to its full-line position soas to release the plate C and permit it to descend onto the top of theplunger 40, as shown in Fig. 1. Thereafter the plunger 49 movesforwardly through the position shown in Fig. 4 where a plate previouslyfed is being nested with the remainder of the nested or stacked platesto the fully advanced position of Fig. and Fig. 5. It will be noted thatthis position of the plungeri corresponds to the position shown in Fig.2 of the disc 62. It will be noted that in this position the slot 61 isin alignment with a horizontal axis drawn through the disc 62 and thatthe cam 66 has already actuated the lever 67 which in turn has moved theactuating rod 29 to rotate the lever k27 and the stop member 22, thusreleasing the container C. The plunger or piston rod 55 is also in itsextreme forward position. Furthermore rotation of the disc 62 will,therefore, move the plunger rod 55 to the right, as shown in thedrawings, and also move the cam 66 to the right which will move the stopmember 22 into container arresting position so that when the nextcontainer is discharged from the chain and the partitions 20 it will bearrested at the top of the guide chute 30.

Movement of the piston or plunger 40 to retracted position will allowthe entire stack of nested containers to move to the right from theposition of Fig. 10 and Fig. 5 under the action of the springs 146 and147 which tend to move the brake shoes 148 and 149 to retractedposition. This movement of the entire stack will continue until the ears144 and 145 contact the bearing blocks 132 and 133. Thereafter thepiston will continue its rearward movement but the stack of nestedplates will remain in the position shown, for example, in Fig. 8 and inFig. 3, the

friction and tension of the rims of the plates tending to hold thenested column together. In the modification of the device shown in Figs.14 and l5, however, the rearward movement will be arrested by thepockets formed between the main portion of the guides and 166 and theportions 169 and 170, this particular modification being especiallydesirable where shallow containers or plates are being processed, whichmay have a tendency to move out of nested relation.

During the rearward movement of the plunger 40 the container C restingon the top of the plunger has no tendency to move backward with theplunger due to the action of the spring nger 39, and as soon as theplunger has moved rearwardly a sufficient amount the container C dropsdown in front of the plunger, as shown in Fig. 3. Thereafter, as theplunger moves forward the center or inside of the container is contactedby the nose 50 and the four corners of the container are contacted bythe bars 41, 42, 44 and 45. A uniform pressure is thus exerted upon thecontainer and it is moved forwardly through the vertical guide doors 75and76 and the horizontal or lateral guide doors 86 and 87. The guidedoor 87 is rotated sufliciently by the container during this operationso that the pawl 107 moves the ratchet or counting wheel 109 a distancecorresponding to one tooth thereon. The guide doors during thisoperation serve to guide the container into nested relation with thecolumn of containers, as shown, for example, in Fig. 4 and Fig. 7, andafter the container is nested with the remainder of the column theentire column is moved forwardly carrying with the column the brakeshoes 148 and 149 until the heads 136 and 137 are in contact with thebearing blocks 132 and 133. Prior to and during this forward movementthe brake shoes act to retard the forward movement of the plates orcontainers in direct contact therewith and ensure the rm nesting of thenew container being added with the remaining plates in the column. Whenthe heads 136 and 137 are in contact with the bearing blocks 132 and 133the forward movement of the brake shoes 148 and 149 is arrested but thecolumn of nested plates is Vnot thus arrested since the column iscapable of being forced through the shoes 148 and 149 under the actionof the plunger 40. This additional movement is precisely equivalent tothe space occupied by one plate or container. The action of the columnof containers, plunger or piston 40 and brake shoes is diagrammaticallyillustrated in Fig. 10 wherein the entire stroke of the piston aftercontacting a container is indicated by the arrow 175, the gate or guidedoor movement by the arrow 176 and the stack or column slippage through,the brake shoes by the arrow 177.

It will be noted that each time the guide door 87 is moved forward by acontainer the pawl 107 moves the counting wheel 10(9'one tooth, nomovement taking place if` no container'is present since the guide door87 is in capable ofK suliieient movement in the absence of a container.If, for example, it is desired to count 84 containers the ratchet wheelor counting wheel will then have 168 teeth. When the 84th container iscounted one ofthe lugs 115 or 116 will contact the actuating member 117for the switch 1 18 and the solenoid 121 will then be energized to moveits armature 122 to the left (Figs. 7 and 8) thus simultaneously movingthe lever 12,4 and the knife 128 to make a small nick or mark in acontainer. It is to be understood, however, that other marking means maybe used for this purpose, such as an ink brush or a marking pencil sothat an attendant can easily see and separate a given number ofcontainers from the column after the column has been moved through thebrake shoes 148 and 149, it beingunderstood that the track 13 is' of*`suicient length to 4"store a plurality of counted groups of containers;

The mounting of the member 34 on the arm 35 enables the member 34 to beswung into a forward position as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. l).This position exposes the interior of the guide chute 31 so that in theevent more than one container or plate getsinto the chute, or othertrouble occurs, the chute can be manually cleared.

I claim:

l. A plate stacking device comprising, a track means for receiving andsupporting a column vof nested plates,

means for moving said column of nested plates along said track means,engaging means adjacent said trackv means including a pair of opposedspring shoes 'for retarding the movement of said column along said trackmeans, means for supporting said engaging means for movement along saidtrack means with said column, springmeans cooperating with said engagingmeans and opposing the movement'of said engaging means along said trackmeans, and means to limit the movement of said engaging means but notsaid column of nested plates whereby said column of nested plates ismoved a greater distance than said engaging meansr 2. A plate stackingdevicel comprising reciprocating plunger means for moving successiveplates into nested relationship to form a column of nested plates andthereafter advancing said column, said reciprocating plungerv meansincluding a pair of horizontal members forming the upper corners of saidplunger means, said members being spaced apart to define an indentationin the top surface of said 4plunger means, means for feeding a plateonto the upper surface of said reciprocating'plunger means, and xedguide means extending into said indentation for retaining said platefrom movement with said plunger means and for guiding said plate intostacking position in front ot said plunger means upon the return strokeof said piunger means.

3. A device in vaccordance with claim 2 including additional means forguiding said plates into nested relationship with said column of nestedplates, each forward stroke of said reciprocating plunger means movingthe pinto in .front of said plunger means heyondsaid additional guidemeans, andV means for returning said additional guide means to theoriginal position.

4. A device in accordance with claim 3, wherein at least one of saidadditional guide means is so positioned that said indentation willreceive said guide means when said piate has moved beyond said guidemeans.

5. 'A device in accordance with claim 3, including indentations in saidplunger means, said indentations and said additional guide means beingso positioned'that said indentationsV will receive said additional guidemeans when said plate has moved beyond said `additional guide means.

6. A plate Stacking devis@ wmpn'sins means, for feed.- ing successiveplates to stacking position, reciprocating plunger means for movingsuccessive plates into nested relationship to form a c olunin of nestedplates and thereafter advancing saidr column, engaging means mounted onreach side of said column for frictionally engaging at least a portionof said column between said opposed engaging means,` means forsupporting said engaging means for movement forwardlywith said columnduring the forward stroke of said plunger means, a stop` means forlimiting the forward travel of said engaging means before the end of theforward stroke of said plunger means, whereby the final portion of saidforward stroke advances said column with respect to said engaging meansby one plate.

7. A device in accordance with claim 6, including spring means forreturning said engaging means and said column of plates during thereturn'stroke of said plunger means, and a second stop means forlimiting the rearward travel of said engaging means and said column ofplates before the end of the return stroke of said plunger means.

8. A device in accordance with claim 6, with means for guidingsuccessive plates from stacking position into nesting relation with thecolumn of plates, the forward movement of said reciprocating plungermeans moving each plate beyond said guide means," said guide meansreturning to the original position.

9 A 'device in accordance with claim 8, with spring means for returningsaid engaging means and said column of plates during the return strokeof said plunger means, said guide'means serving as a stop for limitingthe rearward-travel of said column of plates before the end of thereturn stroke ofsaid plunger means.

10. A plate stacking device comprising a track means for receivingandrsupporting'a column of nested plates, engaging means adjacent saidtrack means on each side thereof for frictionally engaging at least someof the plates in the column, a stop means, spring means for retainingsaid engaging means adjacent to said stop means, reciprocating means formoving a plate into nested relation in said` column and moving saidcolumn and said engaging means, thereby energizing said spring means,means to limit tliemovernent of said engaging means prior to theconclusion of the forward stroke of said reciprocating means, wherebysaid column is advanced with respect to said engaging means.

11. A plate stacking device comprising reciprocating plunger means formoving successive plates into nested relationship to form a-column ofnested plates and thereafter advancing said column, means for feeding aplate in front of saidreciprocating plunger means during each returnstroke of said plunger means, said reciprocating plunger means having anindentation, said indentation being defined by a plurality of horizontalmembers forming corners of the plunger means', guide means for guidingeach of said plates into nested relationship, the for ward movementofsaid plunger means moving said plate beyond said Aguide means', saidindentation in said plunger means and guide meansbeing so positionedthat said indentation will receive said guide means when said plate hasmovedbeyond said guide means,

l2. A device in accordance with claim ll, including counting meansoperated by said guide means during the passing of each plate forcounting the plates in said column, whereby in the absence of a plateduring reciprocation of said plunger rneanssaid guide means will bereceived in said indentation so as to prevent operation of said countingmeans by said guide means.

13. A plate stacking devicevcomprising reciprocating plunger means formoving successiveplates into nested relationship to form a column ofnested plates and thereafter advancing said column, means for returningsaid column of plates on the return stroke of said plunger means to agiven point while said plunger meansreturns a greater distance, meansfor feeding a plate in front of said reeiprocatingplnnger means duringeach return stroke of said plunger "means, guide means for guiding eachof said plates into nested relationship during the forward movement ofsaid plunger means, each forward stroke of said plunger means moving theplate being fed beyond said guide means, said given point of return ofsaid column and the length of said guide means being regulated so thatthe end of said guide means will be between the last plate in the columnand said plate being fed forward prior to movement of said column beyondsaid guide means.

14. A device in accordance with claim 13, including indentations in saidplunger means, said guide means and said indentations being sopositioned that said indentations will receive said guiding means whenthe plate being fed has moved beyond said guide means.

250,505 Rheuten Oct. 12, 1886 10 Rose Oct. 11, Burke Mar. 15, BarbieriAug. 3, Fitch Oct. 8, Rollman Nov. 3, Knowlton June 5, Almgren Feb. 16,Galloway Feb. 21, Sillars July 6, Sillars Mar. 28, Monaco Sept. 19,Hitchcock Nov. 20, Doering et al. May 18, Burkett Jan. 10, Murphy Feb.19,

